HOWARD TRANSPORTATION INC
Risk factors
Moderate riskVioCodes scoreA weighted read of the public FMCSA signals below — authority, insurance, out-of-service, crashes, roadside OOS rates, and carrier connections. A starting point for vetting, not a guarantee.
Broker payment signals
Bond, cancellation & authority risk for this broker — from free FMCSA records.
- Authority revoked 4 times historically (reinstated) — a pattern worth noting.
- Bond has changed hands 7 times across 4 sureties — churn can signal payment or coverage trouble.
These are FMCSA bond & authority signals — not a credit report. A filed bond cancellation is the biggest early warning that a broker may stop paying, but days-to-pay and slow-pay history aren’t public FMCSA data — verify those with a broker-credit service or references before extending terms.
Roadside inspection performance
Out-of-service rate vs national average. Lower is better.
CSA performance breakdown
FMCSA · Sep 202684 inspections · 35 violations (15 OOS) · 33% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance6 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
48
6× · sev 8
- 2392.82DUMTUnsafe Driving
Driver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone
20
2× · sev 10
- 3395.8E-HOSPDHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain
7
1× · sev 7
- 4393.9A-LSLIWRVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on
6
1× · sev 6
- 5393.9A-LRLIVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative
6
1× · sev 6
- 6396.5-HLVehicle Maintenance
Hubs - Leaking hub
4
2× · sev 2
- 7393.53B-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
4
1× · sev 4
- 8393.45B2-BHTDVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Air Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.
4
1× · sev 4
- 9393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
2
2×
- 10396.3A1-BOS2 OOS
Brake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle/combination
2
2×
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- TN7
- OH4
- LA3
- KY3
- MS3
- VA2
- NC2
- PA2
Latest FMCSA SMS snapshot. Codes link to the lookup — severity weighting, contest angles, and the DataQs Drafter for each. Click a BASIC to filter the codes.
Safety trends & next-run projection
Where each BASIC sits today, how it ranks against peers, and where it’s heading at the next monthly SMS run.
FMCSA keeps the Crash Indicator percentile private, and its measure needs a power-unit history public data doesn’t expose — so it can’t be estimated yet. VioCodes now records power units monthly, so a calibrated Crash estimate should light up over time. These are the public crash facts (all state-reportable crashes count, regardless of fault).
“Projected” estimates the next monthly SMS run from inspections on record now. FMCSA marks the BASIC percentile itself “Not Public,” so the percentile shown is a VioCodes estimate of how the carrier ranks against its peers, presented as a likely range (shaded on the gauge) and calibrated against real carriers. Crash Indicator has no public estimate — FMCSA keeps its measures fully private. Estimates, not official FMCSA figures. Not affiliated with FMCSA.
Recommendations
What’s driving each score, what to do about it, and where it could go.
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
High impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 88% is at/over the 80% intervention line. Carriers with a BASIC in alert are prioritized for enforcement (warning letters, audits) and inspected more often — which tends to generate still more violations.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS13× · 43%
- 393.75B-TFVTires - Front, less than 4/32 inch tread depth1× · 1%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear8× · 7%
- 396.3A1-BOSBrake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle/combination7× · 4%
- 393.45B2-BHTDAir Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.2× · 3%
- 393.9A-LSLIWRLighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on2× · 4%
- 393.9A-LRLILighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative2× · 4%
- 393.9HInoperable head lamps2× · 3%
- 393.100B-CCargo - Cargo not secured to prevent leaking/spilling/blowing/falling from CMV1× · 3%
- 393.104F3-CCargo - Loose or unfastened tiedown5× · 3%
- 393.110B2II-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo longer than 5 feet and no more than 10 feet2× · 2%
- Gauge and thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit; correct low pressure immediately
- Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 49% vs the 22% national average. Carriers above the national OOS average draw more enforcement attention (audits, roadside stops) and can see higher insurance premiums.
- Review recent inspections with out-of-service violations and fix the root causes with equipment and drivers
- Run a preventative-maintenance program; periodically inspect tires, brakes and lights
- Reinforce thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections; retrain where needed
A high share of violations are occurring in Greene County, TN
Medium impact9 of 36 violations in the last 12 months (25%) came from inspections in Greene County, TN. That can mean tougher enforcement there or simply more of your miles run through it — either way it's worth a look.
- Review the inspections from Greene County, TN to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Phone / texting violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 8% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.82DUMTDriver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone2× · 58%
- 392.2-SLLCPState/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone1× · 23%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 9%
- Hands-off-the-phone policy with real consequences; provide a mount and a do-not-disturb setup
False log / RODS violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 38% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain2× · 50%
- 395.8F1-HOSMHOS (Manner) - Driver's record of duty status not current to the time shown for last change of duty status. Date and Time:1× · 36%
- Audit ELD edits and duty-status annotations weekly; a false log is a high-severity, high-visibility violation
- Retrain on correct logging and never letting a load pressure a driver into a false entry
Controlled Substances/Alcohol needs attention
Low impactEstimated Controlled Substances/Alcohol percentile of 0% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- Review recent inspections with violations in this BASIC and take remedial action with drivers/equipment
Recommendations are generated from the carrier’s public FMCSA roadside-inspection record. Percentiles and projections are VioCodes estimates, not official FMCSA figures. Informational, not legal advice.
90-day safety improvement plan
What this carrier has struggled with most in the last 90 days — where to focus now.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS · OOS
- 393.47F-BBrake - Wedge type brake(s) out-of-adjustment
- 396.3A1-BOSBrake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle/combination · OOS
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 392.82DUMTDriver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
- 395.8F1-HOSMHOS (Manner) - Driver's record of duty status not current to the time shown for last change of duty status. Date and Time:
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
Based on roadside inspections in the last 90 days, ranked by what recurs most. Informational, not legal advice.
Inspection & crash map
live · FMCSA MCMISEvery inspection and crash on record — hover a point for the summary, click for full detail (codes, severity, CSA points).
CSA points = violation severity weight × FMCSA time weight (3× in the last 6 months, 2× at 6–12, 1× at 12–24). Points are spread within each state — FMCSA records the inspection state, not an exact location. Source: FMCSA MCMIS.
Equipment
VINs via NHTSA79 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 49 more.
Equipment is inferred from VINs recorded on roadside inspections (FMCSA MCMIS), decoded via the NHTSA vPIC API — it reflects vehicles inspected, not a current fleet roster.
Crash record (US, last 24 months)
Total
3
Tow-away
3
Injury
6
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi45 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi45 drivers
- Intrastate · 100+ mi12 drivers
- Intrastate · <100 mi12 drivers
- Company officer
- STEVE HOWARD
- Operation
- Interstate
- D-U-N-S
- 872881800
- Registered since
- 1974-06-01
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-08-17
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 98 trucks · 96 owned tractors · 133 owned trailers · 2 leased/term tractors.
Source: FMCSA Company Census File (data.transportation.gov). Fleet and driver counts are self-reported on the carrier’s most recent MCS-150 filing.
Connections
carrier graphThis carrier shares VINs, phone numbers, officers or emails with 11 other carriers — review the connections below as part of your vetting.
Shared VINs come from FMCSA roadside-inspection records — a vehicle inspected under more than one carrier, often a fleet transfer or trailer interchange. Other links come from the FMCSA census. Shared identifiers are common and often legitimate — treat these as leads to investigate, not proof of wrongdoing.
Activity history
46 events- 08/17/2026MCS-150 update filed
4.8M mi reported (2025)
- 03/01/2025Insurance filed — National Interstate Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy CAT 0011579-00
- 03/01/2025Insurance ended — National Interstate Insurance Company
policy CAT 0011579-00
- 03/01/2025Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA240062
- 03/01/2024Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA230054
- 03/01/2023Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA220055
- 03/01/2022Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA210052
- 03/01/2021Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA190062
- 09/30/2019Insurance cancelled — LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
SURETY · policy 022049272
- 09/10/2019Insurance filed — SURETEC INSURANCE COMPANY
Property broker surety — BMC-84 · policy 5275897
- 09/10/2019Insurance ended — SURETEC INSURANCE COMPANY
policy 5275897
- 09/10/2019Insurance replaced — LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
SURETY · policy 022049272
- 09/03/2019BROKER — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (09/11/2019)
- 04/04/2019Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP29044A
- 03/01/2019Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP29044A
- 03/01/2017Insurance replaced — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA110049
- 09/30/2015Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS CASUALTY & SURETY CO. OF AMERICA
SURETY · policy 106001996
- 10/01/2013Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS CASUALTY & SURETY CO. OF AMERICA
SURETY · policy MH6745
- 05/05/2011Insurance cancelled — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy MC110037
- 03/01/2011Insurance cancelled — CHEROKEE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA-030037
- 02/02/2011COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (02/22/2011)
- 02/02/2011CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (02/22/2011)
- 05/27/2005Insurance replaced — UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO.
SURETY · policy 44013011209871
- 03/27/2003Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN CASUALTY COMPANY OF READING
BIPD/Primary · policy 1080498222
- 03/27/2003Insurance cancelled — CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.
CARGO · policy 1080502558
- 03/01/2003Insurance replaced — AMERICAN CASUALTY COMPANY OF READING
BIPD/Primary · policy 1080498222
- 03/01/2003Insurance replaced — CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.
CARGO · policy 1080502558
- 03/01/2002Insurance cancelled — TRANSCONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 1080498222
- 03/01/2002Insurance cancelled — CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.
CARGO · policy 1080502558
- 01/12/2002Insurance cancelled — FIRST NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AM
CARGO · policy CP7172088
Merged from FMCSA authority, insurance, out-of-service, and census records.
Operations
Classification
- AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Area served
- Interstate
FMCSA safety rating
- Rating
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Non-ratable review
- Rated
- 2000-04-19
- Last review
- 2012-12-14
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-08-17
- Reported mileage
- 4,768,439 mi (2025)
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